Josiah d



(No Model.)

J. D.QU1NN a@ s. GROSSLBY.

DANGER SIGNAL POR RAILROADS. No. 374,373. Patented Dec. 6, 1887.

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v .rl H.H| HI l" Q UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOSIAH D. QUINN AND SAMUEL CROSSLEY, OF DAGGETT, CALIFORNIA.

DANGER-SIGNAL FOR RAILROADS.

SPECIPICAIIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,373, dated December6, 1887.

Application tiled Juno 29, 1887. Serial No. 242,915.

To al? whom it may concern.-

Be 1t known that we, J osinn D. QUINN and SAMUEL GRossLEY, of Daggett,county of San Bernardino, State of California, have invented anImprovement in Danger-Signals for Railways; and we hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to an automatic danger-signal for railways; and itconsists of signais or lights situated at a sufiicient distance uponeither side of the point of danger, and connected by wires with asuitable weight or actuating mechanism which will serve to display thesignal to the engineer of an approaching train whenever there is dangeror accident at the point.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a morecomplete explanation ofourinvention, Figure l is a side view showing signals upon each approachto a bridge and the actuating mechanism upon the bridge. Fig. 2 is atransverse section taken through the bridge and track, showing the shaftand weight by which the signal is actuated. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig.4 is a top view of the signal-box and mechanism connected therewith.

In the present case we have shown our device as applied to a railwaybridge or culvert, A, and B B are the signal-boxes situated at asufficient distance upon either side of the bridge or culvert A, so thatin case of danger the tra-in may be stopped between the signalboxes andthe bridge.

Vires Cextend from each of the signal-boxes to the bridge, and are thereconnected with a weight, F, which is supported uponan arm, D, of ashaft, E, this shaft being journaled in slotted hangers H upon oppositesides of the bridge.

G Gare lightbraces, the lower ends of which are supported in notchedfootings in the bridge-timbers, and the upper ends meet, so as tosupport and hold the shaft in its position.

The arm D has a small projection or pin to tit a corresponding hole inthe bottom of the weight F, so as to prevent the latter from beingjarredor shaken off the arm. The opposite end of the shaft has another arm,which engages a projection, so as to prevent the shaft (No model.)

from turning as long as it is held in its proper position.

The timbers G are made small and light enough, so that in case of firethey would quickly burn oft' and allow the shaft to turn and drop itsweight, thus actuating the signals; or if, by reason of a washout orfrom other cause, the bridge should settle, the timbers would slip fromtheir footings and allow the weight to be dropped.

Within the signal-boxes B the shafts I extend across from side to sideand have their three arms J, K, and L. Upon the end of the arm J is thesignal M, which is thrown up out of the box, so as to be visiblewhenever the shaft I is allowed to rotate. Upon the arm L is a weight,N, which is sufficiently heavy to fall whenever the shaft is released,and thus throw the signal up. A horizontally-moving and jointed slidingrodor plate, O, is connected with the arm K and carries at its outer enda torpedo, P. The arm O has a notch made in one side, which is engagedby a slide, Q, and this arm is connected by the wire C with the weightor actuating device upon the bridge or other point.

The operation will then be as follows: Any accident occurring which willrelease the weight F will act through the wires C to withdraw the slideQ, and thus allow the weight Nto rotate the shaft I, so as to force theslide O outward, throwing the signal M up, and at the Vsame timeextending the torpedo at P, so that it lies upon the rail of the track.Whenever a train arrives at this point, ifa signal has not been noticed,the torpedo will be exploded, and thus attract attention to the fact ofdanger at the point where the weight or operating mechanism was placed.

This device is especially useful upon bridges or culverts, or in deepcuts where there are culverts rendering portions of the road invisiblefrom the approaching train. It is also useful in tunnels and all obscureand dangerous places.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is l 1. The signal-box havingthe movablesignal and rotating shaft, in combination with the IOC Wire extendingfrom the box to the bridge or point of danger, and a weight Which isreleased by any dangerous accident at said point, so as to operate thesignal through the Wire, substantially as described.

2. A box fixed upon the line of the railwaytrack, containing the movablesignal, the shaft having the arms secured thereto, and a lock ing deviceby which it is held so as to conceal the signal, in combination with awire connected with a pawl or locking device and extending from theshaft to the point of danger, Where it is acted upon by a Weight whichis released in case of accident, substantially as described. Y

8. A box containing the rotating shaft with its projecting arm and thejointed bar carrying the Atorpedo and actuated by movement of the shaft,in combination with the slide and locking device and the wire extendingtherefrom to the Weight which is released by any ac cident, so as tooperate the signal, substantially as herein described.

4. A signal-box and the Wire extending therefrom to the bridge orv pointof danger, in combination with the rotary shaft suspended in hangers,having one arm supporting a Weight and the second arm by which itispre-` vented from turning, together with the light braces by which it isheld in place, substantial] y as herein described.

5. The rotary shaft supported in slotted hangers, with the light Woodenbraces G, and shaft having the Weight-supporting arm and the arm bywhich it is prevented from turning,

in combination With Wires extending from the Weight to the signal-boxesand fixed upon the line of the railroad, substantially as hereindescribed.

6. The rotary shaft with its suspended hangers and supportingbraces, thearm by which it is prevented from turning, and the second arm supportinga Weight which is connected by Wires With signal-boxes at distantpoints, said arm being provided with a spur or projeetion which enters acorresponding opening in the Weight and prevents the latter fromturning, substantially as herein described.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

JOSIAH D. QUINN. SAMUEL GROSSLEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. LANE, N. CLARK.

